When you picture a trip to Universal Orlando, you're probably picturing those iconic roaring roller coasters and movie quality simulators. But if you're visiting with kids, you'll be glad to know there are plenty of kid friendly rides at Universal Orlando too!
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As a Florida resident, I've been to the theme parks more times than I can count. But I recently took my seven year old on his first trip to Universal, and we quickly found out that he is not a fan of high speed, scary rides. At least not yet!
So if you're also visiting with little ones in tow, here are my top picks for the best kid friendly rides and attractions at all three Universal Orlando parks - Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe. (And make sure you check out this article for some insider tips too!)
A quick note on height requirements: each ride has its own minimum height, and kids under 48" need to ride with a supervising companion who is at least 14 years old. If one of your kids is too short for a ride, ask the team member about Rider Switch - one grown-up waits with the little one while the rest of the group rides, then you swap without waiting in line all over again. And if you're wondering which rides to skip entirely, check out my list of the scariest (and least scary!) rides at Universal.
Kid Friendly Rides at Universal Studios Orlando
Diagon Alley and the Hogwarts Express
The real gem at both Universal and Islands of Adventure is the Harry Potter themed area of the park, so don't forget your best Harry Potter gear! The re-creation of Diagon Alley is really something special and a great place to spend some time with the family. Take a walk around the shops, where Harry Potter bought his wizarding school supplies. If you care to purchase a wand, stop at Ollivanders, where they'll help you pick the perfect one. Then practice casting spells at the interactive spots throughout the park. Stop in at Gringotts and exchange your muggle money for some wizarding money instead. Grab a snack and a Butterbeer (not actually beer - but still worth a taste).
And if you have park-to-park passes, you can ride the Hogwarts Express straight into Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure. The train ride really is a fun activity and counts as a ride all by itself.
There's also a great ride here called Escape from Gringotts, which is deemed a "family roller coaster". But it was way too intense for my seven year old who noped out right before boarding the ride. And I agree with him - it was pretty fast moving and the theming was pretty dark and intense. So I would save that one for just the older kids.
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
This one has no real fear factor. It's a 3D movie where you go in to minion training, and adventure ensues. The "vehicle" you sit in never really leaves the ground, although it does jostle you about a bit to go along with the movie. It feels like you're jumping or falling in some parts of the movie, but it's all very lighthearted. The Minions ride has a 40" minimum height requirement.
Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast
Right next door, you'll find Villain-Con Minion Blast, where you ride a moving walkway through a "villain convention" and use a blaster to zap targets for points. You can even track your score in the Universal app and compete with the family. There's no minimum height (kids under 48" just need to ride with a grown-up), so it's a great pick for all ages.
E.T. Adventure
If your kids like the E.T. movie, they'll love this ride too. You sit on a flying bicycle (well.. more like a big group bicycle) and ride through the sky. It's slow moving and very kid friendly - in fact, it's located right next to DreamWorks Land, the park's kids area. The E.T. ride has a 34" minimum height requirement.
DreamWorks Land
Universal's newest kids area opened in 2024, replacing the old Woody Woodpecker KidZone. It's themed to Shrek, Trolls, and Kung Fu Panda, and it's a perfect spot for younger kids who need a break from the long lines. Here's what you'll find:
- Trolls Trollercoaster - a gentle little coaster with a 36" minimum height. A great "first coaster" for brave little ones!
- Shrek's Swamp and Po's Kung Fu Training Camp - play areas with slides and splash zones. (Bring a change of clothes!)
- Poppy's Playground - a smaller playground for the littlest kids.
- Character meets - kids can meet Shrek and friends at Shrek's Cottage, and Po from Kung Fu Panda.
Kang & Kodos' Twirl and Hurl
In the Simpsons themed area of Universal, you'll find the Twirl and Hurl. It's basically a version of the teacup ride that everyone knows and loves. You can spin your little saucer as fast as you wish. Ok, as fast as you can get it to go, which isn't all that fast. Great fun for all ages, and no minimum height requirement.
Men in Black Alien Attack
For slightly older kids, the Men in Black ride is a ton of fun. This was my seven year old's favorite ride on our most recent visit. And I'm sure that's entirely due to the laser guns you get at each seat to shoot the aliens. ;-D There's a bit of spinning around, and of course the aliens might be scary for younger kids. The Men in Black ride has a minimum height of 42".
The Simpson Ride
The Simpsons ride is a virtual reality roller coaster. If your kids like the idea of a roller coaster but aren't yet big enough for the real thing - this is a fun ride. For my own kid, he hates roller coasters of all kinds, and this VR version was no exception. So keep that in mind when deciding if this is a good choice for your own kid. The Simpsons ride has a minimum height requirement of 40".
Transformers
The Transformers is a 3D experience that isn't very fast moving, but does get a little intense. It might be scary for younger kids, but is a safe bet for older preteens. The Transformers ride has a minimum height requirement of 40".
DreamWorks Imagination Celebration
There are quite a few shows available at Universal Studios, but the most kid friendly one is the DreamWorks Imagination Celebration over in DreamWorks Land. It's a high-energy dance party show with characters from Shrek, Trolls, Kung Fu Panda, and more. Great for all ages, and a nice chance to sit down for a bit!
Character Encounters
There are several areas around the park where the kids can meet their favorite characters. Some of the most popular are the Minions, The TRANSFORMERS, The Simpsons, and the DreamWorks characters like Shrek and Po!
Arcade and Midway Games
You can also find carnival style games in the Simpsons area and the Palace Theater Arcade in the New York area.
Kid Friendly Rides at Islands of Adventure
Harry Potter's Hogsmeade
The Harry Potter fun continues over at Islands of Adventure, where you'll find the town of Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts School itself. The theming is just as spectacular on this side of the attraction, making this a fun area to walk through or grab lunch. And you can ride the Hogwarts Express the other direction, back into Universal Studios. And that's worth the trouble, as the show is different in each direction.
There are three Harry Potter themed rides on the Islands of Adventure side, but two of them are geared to an older audience. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is an indoor coaster with a 3D experience. It was honestly very intense - fast moving, lots of sudden movement, tipping almost completely backwards, and very dark theming. My seven year old did it and was pretty much terrified. Then there is Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, which is lighter in theme, but still a pretty fast moving coaster. Both have a minimum height of 48" and are best for older kids (like preteen and up).
If you have Express passes, they'll come in handy here on Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff. (Note that Hagrid's no longer accepts Express passes, so everyone waits in the same line for that one.)
And finally, there is Flight of the Hippogriff, a roller coaster ride that is much more tame than the big coasters and only has a minimum height requirement of 36". This is less scary than the two rides above, but it's still a coaster. This one is a great first coaster experience for brave kids to try though!
Seuss Landing - The Cat in the Hat, Trolley Train Ride, and more.
In Islands of Adventure, you'll find Seuss Landing, a Dr. Seuss themed neighborhood filled with kid-friendly activities. My seven year old really enjoyed this area! You'll find the Caro-Seuss-el, a classic carousel ride that is great for all ages. Then there's the "fish ride", which is essentially like the Dumbo ride at Disney, which is also good for all ages.
Next, there's the High in the Sky Trolley Train Ride, which is a fun Dr. Seuss themed train ride that drives all around above Seuss Landing. I have to admit, this one was pretty fun. And you should do it once on each direction, as the ride is different. Minimum height of 36" for the train ride.
And finally, there's the Cat in the Hat ride which is an adorable ride through the famous Cat in the Hat story. There is no fear factor at all here, and it's good for all ages. But does have a 36" minimum height requirement.
Pteranodon Flyers
This is one of the most popular kid-friendly attractions at the parks, and is actually a ride that is reserved just for kids. Well kids and one adult! In order to ride, kids must be between 36" and 56". If you're taller than 56", you must have a kid. No adult riders without kids - they're trying to keep the line shorter for families.
This is a great glider that flies above the Jurassic Park area. It's pretty high up off the ground, but slow moving, and not scary at all. My son loved this ride!
Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges
Slightly older kids will enjoy this river rafting adventure ride. It's not too scary, except for a somewhat steep drop at the end. But watch out - you will get absolutely soaked! This ride has a minimum height of 42".
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a 3D experience that's good for most ages. There's a bit of jostling and tipping around, but the vehicle itself never really moves, so it's not too intense. The movie itself might be a little scary for the youngest kids, but it has a minimum height requirement of 40" anyway.
Storm Force Accelatron
Over in the Marvel section, you'll find this family friendly ride tucked in among the big coasters. It's basically a tea cup style ride, where you can spin your saucer around as fast as you can. A classic for all ages!
Arcade and Midway Games
And much like Universal, you can find an assortment of arcade games at Kingpin's Arcade and carnival type games in the Jurassic Park area and Toon Lagoon.
Kid Friendly Rides at Epic Universe
Universal's newest park, Epic Universe, opened in 2025, and it has a lot to offer younger kids. (We haven't made it to Epic with our own crew yet, so this section is based on our research - we'll add our firsthand take after we visit!) Here are the best picks for kids, land by land.
Super Nintendo World
This is the land most kids will be dying to see. Yoshi's Adventure is a slow, gentle ride with a 34" minimum height, so it's perfect for the little ones. Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge is an interactive ride where you wear augmented reality goggles and toss shells at your opponents (40" minimum). And Mine-Cart Madness is a family coaster with a 40" minimum - a little more thrilling, so it's best for kids who already like coasters. Kids can also buy a Power-Up Band to play interactive games all around the land.
How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk
Isle of Berk is another great area for families. Fyre Drill is a boat ride where you squirt water at targets, with no minimum height. Hiccup's Wing Gliders is a family coaster with a 40" minimum, but it's pretty fast with some launches, so save it for kids who are ready for a real coaster. There's also the Viking Training Camp play area, The Untrainable Dragon live show starring Toothless, and a chance to meet Toothless in person.
Celestial Park
The central hub of Epic has the Constellation Carousel, a spinning carousel with no minimum height, and Astronomica, a splash play area that's perfect for cooling off on a hot day.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic
Harry Potter fans will love walking through this land, and it's home to Le Cirque Arcanus, a magical circus show that's fun for all ages. The big ride here, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, has a 40" minimum, but like Forbidden Journey, it's pretty intense with dark theming, so it's better for older kids.
Skip these with little ones: Stardust Racers, Monsters Unchained, and Dragon Racer's Rally all require riders to be 48" and are true thrill rides. Curse of the Werewolf has a 40" minimum, but it's a spinning coaster with spooky theming, so I'd save it for older kids.
More Universal Orlando Planning Tips
And for more trip inspiration, check out these other helpful guides for your Universal Orlando trip:
- All the Harry Potter Gear you Need for Universal Studios!
- Our Review of Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Studios
- The Ultimate Universal Studios Packing List
- The Best Bags for Universal Studios
- Are Universal Studios Express Passes worth it?
- Insider Tips for an Epic Visit to Universal Studios
- The Scariest (and Least Scary!) Rides at Universal Orlando
- Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando - Our Full Review
- What to Pack for Disney World
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